Mumbai, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
In a setback to former Mumbai police officer Sachin Vaze, the Bombay High Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to him by a special court in the 2021 Antilia bomb-scare and Mansukh Hiran murder cases.
A Bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale passed the order while allowing an appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the September 29 order of the special court.
“The impugned order of the special court is quashed and set aside. The appeal by the NIA is allowed,” the High Court said.
Vaze is an accused in the Antilia bomb-scare case, in which an explosives-laden SUV was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s Mumbai residence in February 2021. Mansukh Hiran, who was considered a possible witness in the case, was later found murdered.
The High Court had earlier stayed the bail granted to Vaze by the Special NIA Court. He has remained in judicial custody at Thane Central Prison, where he has been lodged for the past five years.
The NIA opposed his bail, arguing that he could tamper with witnesses and destroy evidence. Its lawyer also referred to Vaze’s alleged involvement in criminal activities, including the murder of Hiran.
During an earlier hearing in October, the High Court had raised questions about Vaze’s lifestyle, including his use of luxury vehicles and his reported stay of around 100 days in a room at Mumbai’s Oberoi hotel.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, referred to witness statements claiming that Vaze used several expensive vehicles while serving as an Assistant Police Inspector. These reportedly included a BMW, a Volvo, two Mercedes cars and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
The Bench questioned how an officer drawing a monthly salary of around Rs 90,000 could afford such an expensive lifestyle. It also sought details about the ownership and use of the vehicles.
The NIA told the court that the vehicles used by Vaze were being linked to alleged extortion in the case. The agency also referred to statements claiming that he travelled in a luxury Mercedes to the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s office and the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha.
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